Global Brief: Jul 13 – Jul 19
The US widened Iran oil sanctions, expanded terror designations, and reopened monument land to mining. China built an AI body instead. Two theories of power.
Nick Dimmer
Nick Dimmer writes Life Sufficient, an independent publication on geopolitics, money, privacy, and resilience. A software engineer by background, he reads central bank documents and government reports so you don't have to.
Global Brief: Jul 6 – Jul 12
NATO turned defense pledges into contracts, Washington rewarded Syria while squeezing Iran, and Brussels moved to fine Meta. Power is shifting to money.
Global Brief: Jun 29 – Jul 5
Israel and Lebanon signed a peace framework in Washington as oil fell nearly forty dollars a barrel since spring. Why the week's calm rests on a fragile base.
Global Brief: Jun 22 – Jun 28
The US ended its war with Iran, then brokered a landmark Israel-Lebanon peace deal days later. Finland lifted its nuclear weapons ban the same week.
Global Brief: Jun 15 – Jun 21
The US and Iran signed a peace deal ending three months of war. Europe locked Ukraine into accession talks and a 90-billion-euro loan in the same week.
The ECB raised rates into a slowdown. Then the war ended.
The ECB's own data shows oil assumptions up 55% and energy inflation revised up nine points. It hiked rates on June 11. The next day, the war ended.
Global Brief: Jun 8 – Jun 14
The World Bank says global growth just hit its lowest point since COVID. The ECB hiked rates. Xi visited Pyongyang. One conflict ties them together.
Global Brief: Jun 1 – Jun 7
Gulf strikes escalate, Khamenei reported dead, and both Washington and Brussels race to lock AI into their security playbooks.
Global Brief: May 25 – May 31
A Russian drone hit Romanian soil. The US signed minerals deals on two continents. Oil reserves are at record drawdown. What the pattern signals.
How a distant war reaches your savings: the ECB's May warning
A war closed the Strait of Hormuz, and the ECB's latest review traces how the shock travels through bond markets and shadow banks to reach your savings.
Global Brief: May 18 – May 24
Iran sanctions tighten as Rubio hints at a Hormuz deal. A drone strike on the UAE's nuclear plant crosses a new line. What the pattern means.
Why Europe's central bank is suddenly worried about water
Three out of four euros euro area banks lend goes to companies that depend on nature. The ECB's own data says a drought is now a banking risk.